To improve virtual access to health care during COVID-19, TRICARE recently revised its policy on telehealth services. This temporarily allows you access to care more easily during the constraints of the pandemic. These changes will remain for the duration of the stateside public health emergency. They may be in place overseas beyond the U.S. national emergency end date, based on local conditions.

Eye injuries in a deployed setting can be a significant setback for any Airman, but new telemedicine capabilities are helping to keep them in the fight.
With funding from the 59th Medical Wing, Joint Base San Antonio, Texas, Air Force and Army medical researchers are developing a HIPAA-compliant smart phone application to connect providers downrange with on-call ophthalmologists either in-theater or at a clinic.

The Air Force Medical Service uses telehealth to make it easier for primary care providers to consult with specialists, creating additional learning opportunities for medical Airmen and improving patient care.
Project ECHO (short for Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes) was developed by the University of New Mexico. The AFMS began using a modified version in 2012 to improve the ability to connect medical Airmen with specialty providers at other military treatment facilities.

The Air Force Medical Service is eliminating some of the hassle of medical appointments by expanding use of virtual, over-the-phone appointments for patients who do not need to see their provider in person.